‘Ebenezer Watts, for heaven’s sake!’ Aunt Hatt said.

Annie could not hide her scorn. ‘Quite sure,’ she blazed at him. ‘I don’t want him anywhere near me after that. Or anyone else, for that matter.’

Herr Schmale appeared the next morning, every line of his body expressive of abject apology. He seemed altogether smaller.

‘Vere is your sister?’ he asked Margaret when he appeared in the front office.

‘She’s out – working,’ Margaret told him warily. She certainly wasn’t going to tell him where. ‘She has a job.’

‘A chob?’ He turned the word about as if this was a new concept. His dejection increased. Aunt Hatt, who had let him in, placed herself behind her desk with quiet tact. Susan sat and Bridget stood, both very still, as if worried that if they attracted attention they might be asked to leave the room.

‘I am ze vorst kind of fool,’ Herr Schmale said. ‘I am ze lowest of vorms, of stupid beetles . . .’

Margaret was not sure if she was supposed to contradict him. She indicated a chair for him, but he shook his head.

‘No – I must stand. I want to offer Miss Annie my heartfelt apologies. I was for one night a man who had lost his senses, his bearings.’ He looked solemnly round at the three of them, then shrugged, as if to say, Well, here goes.

‘You see, my fahter introduced me to my fiancée. He feels it is high time – high time, you say zis? – zat I vas a married man. And Hilde is a fine woman, her family very vealthy in making soap powders. Soon vill be our marriage.’ He spoke in tones of gloomy inevitability. ‘Hilde is one year older than myself. But . . . When mine eyes fastened on to Miss Annie, oh . . .’ He clasped his hands together. ‘So fresh, so full of passion . . . My heart sprang up and said, Yes! Zis is the lady viz whom you must join your life! Zis lady is perfect, if only she vill agree to be my vife!’

He smiled round at them, though his eyes were large and sad. Margaret felt truly sorry for him.

‘I’ll explain to her,’ she said gently. ‘We realized that you were not feeling quite yourself.’

‘Ah!’ He shook his head. ‘Unfortunately I vas more myself in that hour than I have ever been. But I see zat Miss Annie does not vant me.’

‘She’s only seventeen, sir,’ Margaret said.

He looked astonished, but seemed a little reassured by this explanation. ‘I see. So young. I had not realized. She is a small lady – but so much fire.’

‘Will you still be wanting the brooch, Herr Schmale?’ Aunt Hatt stood up. ‘I believe it is almost ready.’

He hesitated, then nodded with resignation. ‘Yes, of course. Thank you. You have been to a great deal of trouble for me.’

Aunt Hatt gave a formal nod. ‘It’s been an honour,’ she said pleasantly.